Fight Me(45)

I look between her and Jake. I really want to stay with Jake for a little longer and then head home and clean up. I still feel gross and unpresentable. “Umm, no thank you. I think I’m going to stay here for just a few more minutes and then head home. Thank you so much for the offer.”

Mrs. Stevens gives me a knowing smile and waves as she walks out of the hospital room with the promise to return very soon.

“Come here, you,” Jake says as he holds out his good arm for me to sink down into his embrace on the bed. “It’s about time they all left,” he adds as he places a kiss on the top of my head.

“I can leave too and let you get some rest.”

“I don’t want you to leave. I want you to stay here with me. I feel better when you’re in my arms. Arm,” he adds with a cocky smile.

“I can’t believe you got shot,” I whisper as the tears threaten to spill over my eyes again.

“It was just a graze. I’m fine. My head is fucking killing me though. How bad is the back? Can you see the staples?” I sit up as Jake leans forward. There’s a bandage there, but I gently lift it up and peek inside.

“Yeah, that doesn’t look so hot. They had to shave a little area around it.”

“I figured. It already itches like crazy.”

After I snuggle back into Jake’s embrace, I take another deep breath and let the feel of his body wash over me. “I’m so glad you are okay. I was so scared when I got that phone call.”

“I’m sorry I scared you, darlin’. It’s gonna take more than a stray bullet and a coffee table to get rid of me.”

I laugh a little before I reply, “Your sister said pretty much the same thing.”

He chuckles. “Oh, I bet she did,” he says with a big yawn.

“I’m going to head out and let you rest. Besides, I’m in desperate need of a shower.”

“I don’t want you to leave yet.” When I look up at Jake, his eyes are closed. “What were you painting?”

“I was just starting the second coat in my office. I think I have more on my body than I actually got on the walls.”

“You look adorable as hell,” he mumbles and shifts himself to a more comfortable position - without letting go of me.

As I lay with Jake on the hospital bed, I take in all of the sounds around me. The slow beeping of the machines, the steady drip from the IV pump, the even sounds of Jake’s breathing against my head. I’m completely comforted by the feel of his strong arm wrapped around me. It’s the only place I want to be - wrapped up in the strong arms of the man I love. That’s my last thought as I slowly succumb into a deep sleep.





Chapter Eleven


Jake

My head is pounding as I slowly wake from a fitful sleep. One arm is aching and has a slight burning feeling. The other arm is pinned. I quickly realize that it’s pinned under the beautiful redhead that filled my dreams last night.

Yesterday starts to all come back to me at that moment. The dull ache of my arm and head, the gunshot, the hospital room. Thankfully, it’s just a flesh wound so I should be able to get out of here today. The doc said the bump on my head is what concerns them the most. But, I know I’ll be fine if I can get out of here and into my own house. Hell, maybe I can sweet talk a smoking hot redhead to come over and play nursemaid for me. Now, that thought makes me smile.

Erin starts to rouse from sleep, opening her beautiful green eyes and looking up at me.

“Morning, darlin’.”

“Good morning.” She sits up and looks at my other arm and face, concern etching her beautiful features. “How are you feeling this morning?”

“Better. I’m ready to go home.”

“You can go home when the doctor says you’re ready to go home, Jake. You can’t overdo this. You’ll end up back in here.”

“I’m fine. Give me a few Tylenols, and I’m good to go. Come here and give me a kiss.”

Erin leans forward and places a gentle kiss on my lips. The kiss goes straight to my groin and I’m hard instantly. “I’m a little sore down here. Maybe you should kiss that too and make it feel a lot better,” I say against her lips with a smile.

Erin pulls back, eyes wide, and swats at my good arm. “Behave, you,” she says with a laugh.

Just then a knock sounds at the door and Maddox walks in. “Am I interrupting?”

“Yes,” I say at the exact same time Erin says, “No.”

“I’m going to head home to shower and change. I’ll be back up in a little bit, okay?”

“Okay, darlin’. Take your time. I’m not going anywhere.”